Riot police armed with truncheons backed by mounted police waded into protesters slowly marching from the Camp for Climate Action towards BAA headquarters. The march was part of the day of mass action which had been publicly announced the yesterday. On-site medics have treated at least five people who sustained head injuries and one person who had been trodden on by a police horse.
For Immediate Release
UPDATE: Police attack protesters’ march towards BAA
Riot police armed with truncheons backed by mounted police waded into protesters slowly marching from the Camp for Climate Action towards BAA headquarters. The march was part of the day of mass action which had been publicly announced the yesterday. On-site medics have treated at least five people who sustained head injuries and one person who had been trodden on by a police horse.
The fact that the majority of the corporate media had been covering the children’s demonstration at a separate location meant that the police could act with relative impunity in violently assaulting the protestors. One reporter from Channel 5 who was present at the attack said that they had been kicked by the police.
Despite the heavy handed attack, around three hundred people managed to reach the BAA headquarters and proceeded to occupy the entrance and car park, stringing up banners denouncing the company. Dozens of police vans and lines of riot police cordoned off the area and prevented hundreds more from entering the site, effectively blockading the site on behalf of the Camp for Climate Action.
Protestors had targeted the BAA headquarters in order to highlight the corporate profiteers of climate change rather than choosing to disrupt the passengers at Heathrow. As promised by the camp, the mass action made no attempt to disrupt Heathrow.
In a separate action earlier on in the day, three teenaged women, aged 14, 15 and 16 occupied a roof at the BAA-owned Heathrow Business Academy opposite the BAA headquarters and dropped a banner that said “Make Planes History.” Their protest continues.
There have been 6 confirmed arrests and 6 more that are currently unconfirmed today. Today’s arrests bring the total of confirmed Climate Camp-related arrests to 56.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
The teenagers who dropped the banner are currently on the roof of the Heathrow Business Academy and can be contacted on 079821 04537
For further enquiries, contact the camp media team on 0777 286 1099 or 07858 177 178
For a photo of the teenagers on the roof, contact Mike on 07966 372 890
UPDATE: Police attack protesters’ march towards BAA
Riot police armed with truncheons backed by mounted police waded into protesters slowly marching from the Camp for Climate Action towards BAA headquarters. The march was part of the day of mass action which had been publicly announced the yesterday. On-site medics have treated at least five people who sustained head injuries and one person who had been trodden on by a police horse.
The fact that the majority of the corporate media had been covering the children’s demonstration at a separate location meant that the police could act with relative impunity in violently assaulting the protestors. One reporter from Channel 5 who was present at the attack said that they had been kicked by the police.
Despite the heavy handed attack, around three hundred people managed to reach the BAA headquarters and proceeded to occupy the entrance and car park, stringing up banners denouncing the company. Dozens of police vans and lines of riot police cordoned off the area and prevented hundreds more from entering the site, effectively blockading the site on behalf of the Camp for Climate Action.
Protestors had targeted the BAA headquarters in order to highlight the corporate profiteers of climate change rather than choosing to disrupt the passengers at Heathrow. As promised by the camp, the mass action made no attempt to disrupt Heathrow.
In a separate action earlier on in the day, three teenaged women, aged 14, 15 and 16 occupied a roof at the BAA-owned Heathrow Business Academy opposite the BAA headquarters and dropped a banner that said “Make Planes History.” Their protest continues.
There have been 6 confirmed arrests and 6 more that are currently unconfirmed today. Today’s arrests bring the total of confirmed Climate Camp-related arrests to 56.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
The teenagers who dropped the banner are currently on the roof of the Heathrow Business Academy and can be contacted on 079821 04537
For further enquiries, contact the camp media team on 0777 286 1099 or 07858 177 178
For a photo of the teenagers on the roof, contact Mike on 07966 372 890
Comments
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injuries at climate camp
20.08.2007 16:26
Anne Gray
e-mail:
amgggg2@yahoo.co.uk
the injured
29.08.2007 16:53
i know someone who got pushed down onto a kerb by police and broke his hip in two places. he had surgery to put pins in but won't know if it's been succesful for 6 months, although he will be able to walk in 6-8 weeks. he's back home now, but was in hospital for a week. he's in his mid fifties and was just standing around.
i also know of a woman in her sixties who said she was hit in the chest and back. i spoke to a man who had had his leg hit by batons which split his skin. he is actually on a sky news report, they interviewed him and showed his leg.
the behaviour of the police was disgusting. but i know of no retalitation from protesters, despite what the police say. i have great respect for everyone on that march and blockade.
it's quite unnerving to see some of the news reports which quite clearly show what was happening, but the reporters say things like: ' i think the police have it all under control' (bbc) and something like 'a bit of a scuffle is breaking out behind me' (itv) when it was quite clear that the riot cops were just shoving people around.
are the viewers really seeing this stuff and not realising what's actually happening? lawd help us if they're not...
k